Exotics Plays for the Bricks and Mortar Stakes

Nine three-year-olds will vie in Saturday’s inaugural running of the $175,000 Bricks and Mortar S. at Belmont Park. The seven-furlong grass event has a little bit of everything with speed contenders, late runners, and entrants cutting back in distance, and it seems like an ideal tilt to focus on the vertical exotics. 

Bricks and Mortar Wagers

• $10 win and place #8 Doubting Thomas ($20)
• $2 exacta box 1,7,8 ($12)
• $.50-cent trifecta 8 with 1,7 with all ($7)

#8 Doubting Thomas has a lot of appeal to me, cutting back in distance after going long for the initial time in advance of this one. The bay son of Caravaggio has come home first or second in each of his sprint races in advance of his latest appearance, and the Michael Trombetta pupil is a two-time stakes winner on the green at one-turn in total. He has a nice draw outside of the pace in the field and will be well placed at the top of the lane, with Jorge Ruiz in the controls. 

#1 Two Out Hero will be popular at the windows, and deservedly so, coming off a runner-up effort in the Franklin-Simpson (G2) at Kentucky Downs most recently. Trained by Kevin Attard, the son of War Front has been in fine form in his last trio of performances and could benefit from having the rail, as well. The talented late runner landed in a field with speed in the mix and will be doing his best work late with Rafael Hernandez in for the ride, which is a positive. 

The Miguel Clement-conditioned #7 Intricate Spirit was dueled into submission after establishing ambitious early splits in the Mahony (G3) at Saratoga most recently, but the Grade 3 victor will receive a better voyage on this occasion and wouldn’t be a surprise. By Complexity, the dark bay gelding is not especially consistent, but he is very good when things go his way, and he is a fine fit from a class perspective against this crew. The sophomore will be forcing the tempo with Manny Franco taking the reins once again.